Humidifier



April 21, 1964 M. R. BANKS 3,130,245

' HUMIDIFIER Filed July 12, 1960 FIG. w /4 INV EN TOR. MEL I/IZLE EA YMOND BANKS A TI'OR/VEYS' United States Patent Ofitice 3,139,245 Patented Apr. 21, 1964 3,139,245 HUMIEEFER hlelville Raymond Banks, West Paterson, N.J., assignor to Walton Laboratories, Inc., Iryington, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey Filed July 12, 196i}, Ser. N 42,385 3 Claims. (Cl. 261-29) This invention relates to a structurally and functionally improved humidifier primarily intended for the efiicient dispersal of minute particles of water into the air.

It is a primary object to furnish an apparatus of this type which will be of simple design and will consume small amounts of current in distributing maximum amounts of liquid.

A further object is that of providing such an apparatus in which the motor will be maintained at a low operating temperature, and in which that motor will not require a watertight casing.

Additional objects are those of designing an assembly including relatively few parts, each individually simple and rugged in construction and all capable of ready connecting and grouping with respect to each other to furnish a compact unit operating over long periods of time with freedom from all difficulties.

With these and other objects in mind, reference is had to the attached sheet of drawings illustrating practical embodiments of the invention, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional side view of a humidifier structure;

FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view showiug the relationship of certain of the humidifier elements;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the lower end of a water-elevating member difierent from that shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the structure as illustrated in FIG. 4.

Referring primarily to FIG. 1, the reference numeral 19 indicates a bowl providing a liquid reservoir. Supported by this bowl is a cover 11 having an upwardly extending central portion, the upper zone of which defines an intake opening. Secured to the cover in line with the edges of this opening is a housing 12. That housing, as shown, may have a closed upper end 13. In all events, however, it provides openings 14 at desired locations, which allow for an intake of air into the assembly. Conveniently, the cover has an upwardly and outwardly extending part 15 to thus furnish an outlet for the casing assembly. If such an outlet is provided, a vane 16 may be carried by the cover to direct the path of the discharged air. It will be apparent that other forms of outlets can be furnished in which the discharge might even occur throughout an entire annular zone, if desired.

A motor 17 may be supported by bolts 18 from the upper housing part 13. This motor will have a drive shaft 19 to which there is attached by, for example, a hub 20, an air and water-distributing assembly as hereinafter described in greater detail. The edge zone of the cover may terminate in a downwardly extending flange 21. This rests within a trough zone 22 forming a part of the reservoir. Conveniently, a strip of cushioning and sound-deadening material 23 may be interposed between the cover and reservoir. Thus, the bowl, cover and associated parts provide an encasing structure within which the motor is disposed.

The water-elevating member preferably takes the form or" a tube 24 extending below and in line with the axis of shaft 19. As in FIG. 1, the lower end of this tube may mount a perforated cap 25. Other types of caps may be used at this point. For example, as in FIGS. 4 and 5, a cap 26 formed with an indented and slotted base portion 27 can be employed. In any event, with the tube or equivalent member rotating at proper speed, with its lower end immersed in the body of liquid within reservoir It that liquid will be elevated along the length of the member. So elevated, it will move in contact with the portions of the apparatus which serve to atomize the water or other liquid used.

That apparatus, as shown in FIG. 3 in conjunction with FIG. 1, includes an annular water-breaking grille in the form of a toothed comb or else a slotted band 28. The upper end of this grille is extended inwardly, as at 29, and is supported by bolts 30, which may also serve to maintain housing 12 fixed with respect to cover 11. These bolts or rivets are surrounded by spacer sleeves 31. Thus, the grille is fixedly supported in a plane adjacent the upper end of tube 24.

Hub 20 carries an upper disk 32. That disk is either integral with or carries upon its upper face an air fan preferably embracing a radial series of upstanding blades 33. The length and positioning of these blades are such that they move closely adjacent the inner face of the encasing structure. Accordingly, a blower wheel assembly is in effect provided, drawing air inwardly past motor 17 into the casing structure. If that motor is of the open case type, then part of the air will be drawn through its interior for cooling purposes. In that event, it would be preferable to have the top portion formed with one or more perforations. Regardless of the details of this structure, however, it will be apparent that with the downward flow of air, the motor will be cooled and will not require any heavy encasing structure, such as would be necessary if there were danger of the motor being subjected to moisture.

The upper end of tube 24 terminates in line with the upper surface of a lower disk 35 and supports a flanged collar 34. Bolts or rivets 36 pass through the flange of this sleeve and the body of upper disk 32, to thus retain the water-elevating tube and lower disk immovable with respect to hub 20; spacers 37 of suitable material encircling the shanks of the bolts or rivets 36 to maintain the disks in properly spaced relationship.

The peripheral zone of upper disk 32 is inclined downwardly and outwardly, as at 38, to extend into the plane of the lower disk 35 substantially in line with the upper surface thereof. The edge of peripheral portion 38 is beveled, as indicated at 39. Also, the edge of lower disk 35 is preferably beveled, as indicated at 40. The diameter of lower disk 35 is less than the maximum diameter of disk 32 including its peripheral zone 38. Thus, spacing exists between these parts. While spacing also exists between the inner face of extended portion 38 and the edge of lower disk 35, that spacing should be minimal. The upper edge of tube 24 lies in the plane of lower disk 35 and substantially in line with the upper face thereof. If, as shown, the fan is a separately formed unit, then the bolts or rivets 36 may also pass through it to thus retain the entire assemblyJ It is apparent that with the reservoir containing a certain depth of liquid and motor 17 operating, that liquid will be drawn up through tube 24 and distributed over the upper face of lower plate 35. Under the action of centrifugal force, it will be thrown outwardly over the surface of that plate and will shear from the edge zone thereof in a most desirable manner, especially if a beveled zone 49 is provided. It will strike against the inner face of the downwardly inclined peripheral portion 38. This part also is moving at high speed. Accordingly, under the action of centrifugal force, the water particles will now move downwardly and outwardly and be impelled at great velocity through the grille and be atomized in their passage therethrough.

Simultaneously, air will be drawn into the casing assembly, and the major portion of this air will pass between the flange 29 of the grille and the inner face of cover 11. A small amount of air may flow through the minute space existing between the inner edge of flange 29 and the outer surface of part 38. Air flowing through the latter path will of course move downwardly to intercept the sheet or spray of particles leaving the beveled edge 39 and prior to those particles moving through the breaker grille. In any event, the great mass of atomized particles will be thrown into the main air stream moving beyond the breaker grille, which air stream will push those particles downwardly and toward the outlet or outlets of the humidifier.

As will be apparent, with the present apparatus there will be no danger of clogging occurring adjacent the cap, due to the large opening of the latter. Also, the tube providing the pump is completely open. Therefore, it will not clog under normal operating conditions; there being no obstruction within its bore. By using a tube of small diameter to elevate the liquid, a maximum amount of water or other liquid is delivered under minimum load on the motor. This permits of the use of a small motor which will operate at minimum speed. In connection with the water-elevating and distributing pump structure, it is to be observed that it is preferred, in accordance with the present teachings, to etch the surfaces of all parts that water will come into contact with. The etching allows greater adhesion between the water and metal parts. For example, the water upon coming in contact with the surfaces of the discs will tend to disperse over the surfaces in a thin film rather than just sliding across those surfaces in different areas.

The periphery of lower disk 35 presents a sufliciently large circumference so that the water is impelled beyond its edge at high velocity against the undersurface of the top disk. The latter has a diameter sufiiciently great so that the water is slung'into the breaker grille with sufiicient velocity to assure extremely fine atomization of the liquid. The sharp edges of the disks assure that the water in each instance will leave them in the form of a very fine sheet or film. Water delivered by the lower disk will strike against the inner face of the downwardly inclined portion 38. By having only small spacing between the breaker grille and the outer edge of peripheral portion 38, only a minimal amount of air passes between these members. In this manner, large particles or drops of water are not created between the teeth of the grille to intermix with the finely atomized particles. Such large drops as do form will drop back into the reservoir, and only fine vapor will be expelled through the outlet port or ports. The main flow of air being to the rear of the atomized water, the particles of the latter are pushed toward the outlet.

Thus, among others, the several objects of the invention as specifically aforenoted are achieved. Obviously, numerous changes in construction and rearrangements of the parts might be resorted to without departing fiom the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

I claim:

1. A humidifier comprising;

a casing assembly including,

a bowl providing a liquid reservoir,

a cover including a main body portion extending to and supported upon the periphery of said bowl, and

an upwardly extending housing centrally thereof, air inlet means in said housing,

a motor having a shaft,

means mounting the motor within and spaced from said housing with said shaft extending downwardly,

a substantially annular grill having a diameter greater than the peripheral extent of the housing,

means supporting the grill in spaced relationship below the main body of the cover substantially coaxial with the housing,

an upper disc mounted on the motor shaft extending transversely thereto,

said upper disc having a peripheral portion inclined downwardly and outwardly with its outer edge spaced from the inner wall of the grill,

fan means between said disc and motor rotatable by said shaft,

a lower annular disc with a central aperture, the disc having a lesser diameter than the upper disc,

means mounting said lower annular disc coaxial with the motor shaft and in spaced substantially parallel relation below the upper disc, the upper surface of said lower disc being in substantially the same plane as the outer edge of said peripheral portion of said upper disc,

a vertical tube extending downwardly into the bowl with its upper end mounted in the central aperture of the lower annular disc,

air outlet means in the casing assembly near the periphery of the bowl,

whereby upon rotation of said shaft by said motor air will be drawn through said air inlet means contacting said motor by said fan means and discharged by said fan means towards said grill, said air passing said grill in two separate streams, one stream between said disc and said grill and the other stream between said grill and said cover towards said air outlet means, while liquid will be drawn from said reservoir through said tube over the upper surface of the lower disc and the lower surface of the upper disc across said one air stream through the grill and into the second air stream.

2. A humidifier as defined in claim 1 in which said air outlet means comprises means forming an aperture in said main body portion of said cover.

3. A humidifier as defined in claim 1 further comprising air guide vanes extending downwardly from the cover and positioned between the air outlet means and the outside of the grill.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A HUMIDIFIER COMPRISING: A CASING ASSEMBLY INCLUDING, A BOWL PROVIDING A LIQUID RESERVOIR, A COVER INCLUDING A MAIN BODY PORTION EXTENDING TO AND SUPPORTED UPON THE PERIPHERY OF SAID BOWL, AND AN UPWARDLY EXTENDING HOUSING CENTRALLY THEREOF, AIR INLET MEANS IN SAID HOUSING, A MOTOR HAVING A SHAFT, MEANS MOUNTING THE MOTOR WITHIN AND SPACED FROM SAID HOUSING WITH SAID SHAFT EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY, A SUBSTANTIALLY ANNULAR GRILL HAVING A DIAMETER GREATER THAN THE PERIPHERAL EXTENT OF THE HUSING, MEANS SUPPORTING THE GRILL IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP BELOW THE MAIN BODY OF THE COVER SUBSTANTIALLY COAXIAL WITH THE HOUSING, AN UPPER DISC MOUNTED ON THE MOTOR SHAFT EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY THERETO, SAID UPPER DISC HAVING A PERIPHERAL PORTION INCLINED DOWNWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY WITH ITS OUTER EDGE SPACED FROM THE INNER WALL OF THE GRILL, FAN MEANS BETWEEN SAID DISC AND MOTOR ROTATABLE BY SAID SHAFT, A LOWER ANNULAR DISC WITH A CENTRAL APERTURE, THE DISC HAVING A LESSER DIAMETER THAN THE UPPER DISC, MEANS MOUNTING SAID LOWER ANNULAR DISC COAXIAL WITH THE MOTOR SHAFT AND IN SPACED SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL RELATION BELOW THE UPPER DISC, THE UPPER SURFACE OF SAID LOWER DISC BEING IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME PLANE AS THE OUTER EDGE OF SAID PERIPHERAL PORTION OF SAID UPPER DISC, A VERTICAL TUBE EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY INTO THE BOWL WITH ITS UPPER END MOUNTED IN THE CENTRAL APERTURE OF THE LOWER ANNULAR DISC, AIR OUTLET MEANS IN THE CASING ASSEMBLY NEAR THE PERIPHERY OF THE BOWL, WHEREBY UPON ROTATION OF SAID SHAFT BY SAID MOTOR AIR WILL BE DRAWN THROUGH SAID AIR INLET MEANS CONTACTING SAID MOTOR BY SAID FAN MEANS AND DISCHARGED BY SAID FAN MEANS TOWARDS SAID GRILL, SAID AIR PASSING SAID GRILL IN TWO SEPARATE STREAMS, ONE STREAM BETWEEN SAID DISC AND SAID GRILL AND THE OTHER STREAM BETWEEN SAID GRILL AND SAID COVER TOWARDS SAID AIR OUTLET MEANS, WHILE LIQUID WILL BE DRAWN FROM SAID RESERVOIR THROUGH SAID TUBE OVER THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE LOWER DISC AND THE LOWER SURFACE OF THE UPPER DISC ACROSS SAID ONE AIR STREAM THROUGH THE GRILL AND INTO THE SECOND AIR STREAM. 